Kolkata: Form 26AS carries extremely significant information for an individual — financial statements of a taxpayer. This comprehensive display of the financial statement for the year makes it valuable for filing ITR (Income Tax Returns). Now Form 26AS has been replaced by Form 168 in the new Income-Tax Act (ITA) 2025. It shows all the transactions related to the PAN of the taxpayer. It is updated after the Income Tax Department processes TDS information filed by the authorised TDS deductors by May 31. It can be easily downloaded from the Income Tax e-filing portal and the TRACES website after seven days. One can also download Form 168 from the website of your bank. Whatever you fill in ITR must tally with Form 168 or Form 26AS.
Information contained in Form 168
Form 168 consolidates information for the sake of transparency, data accuracy, and ease of compliance. Form 168 is auto-generated by the Income-tax Department. The information shown here includes the following:
Tax Deducted at Source (TDS)
Tax Collected at Source (TCS)
Payment of advance, self-assessment, and regular taxes
Specified Financial Transactions (SFTS)
Demand and refund details
Status of pending and completed proceedings
Any other information as prescribed under Income Tax Rule 245
How to download Form 26AS online
Since Form 168 has replaced Form 26AS, let’s see how one can download Form 26AS from their bank website. Many banks allow customers to access Form 26AS directly through net banking facilities. The steps involved are he following:
ONE: Log in to the individual’s net banking account
TWO: Go to the tax services section
THREE: Select Form 26AS or AIS
FOUR: Access the statement. Download it
Accessing Form 168 or 26AS via income tax portal
Anyone can do this and he/she need not enter the income tax portal to access Form 26AS or Form 168.
One can also access Form 26AS through the e-filing portal or through the TRACES platform. The following are the steps for it:
Enter the Income Tax e-Filing portal
Log in using PAN, Aadhaar-linked credentials or ID and password
Click on ‘e-file’
First select ‘Income Tax Returns’ and then proceed to View Form 26AS
Now you will be taken to TRACES website. Click ‘Proceed’
Select ‘View Tax Credit (Form 26AS)’
Choose the required assessment year
Select format and click View/Download